Feeding Raw: How to Know He's Eating the Raw Bone Correctly?

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

Do you freeze the chickens before giving them to Jett, or just fresh from the store? I've heard it's ok to give them fresh store bought chicken, no need to freeze, because their systems can take the bacteria.

To those that feed their dogs a whole egg. Do you break it up and crush the shells, or just give them the egg whole? If you give them a whole egg, do they wonder what it is and how to eat it? Or is it instinctual? Should I show him the first time?

As far as giving chicken that has been frozen or fresh, I really don't think there is much of a difference. Mine do fine on either.
I know that you are concerned and if I were you I would start with chicken wings....hold the wing in your hand and make Maxx chew. I would just hold and say "chew, chew" and they catch on quick. Once he understand that he should be chewing and taking his time to crunch it, give him another.
Start slow if you are worried that he may have a harder time digesting. See how he does.

As far as the whole raw egg...get a camera...take the egg outside and give it to Maxx on the ground. Watch him play with it. If he does not understand what to do with it...then give the egg a slight crack...and once the white starts coming out, he will catch on.

Baxter will eat the whole egg, crunching the shell and all....China will just lick the good stuff out and leave the shell.

Gina

[brutus'mother]

You can feed the chickens fresh or freeze, thaw and feed. If it makes you feel better to freeze it first, go ahead. You will gain confidence about feeding raw along the way!

As far as eggs either way is fine. I like to give mine whole just to see brutus' reaction.
A lot of times he will crack the shell and lick the insides out leaving the broken shell. Since I don't use the shell as a calcium source I don't worry that he doesn't always eat the shell. I would suggest if giving a whole egg to feed it outside. Brutus like to toss it around a little and that can get messy.

[Maxxx]

Sounds good! Max is really starting to not want his kibble plain anymore, so I think he's trying to tell me it's time to start him on raw full time

Gina - I'll try the chicken wing idea! Get him used to it a bit before we go the whole chicken route. I think I'll freeze the chicken at first, just to make myself more comfortable. I'll definitely record his antics with the whole egg. I'm looking forward to seeing what he does!

[moondog]

Originally Posted by brutus'mother

Moondog- what is the purpose of defending grains in a carnivores diet?

I wasn't defending grains at all....I was simply clarifying the error in your statement that dogs cannot digest grains - they certainly can, and do.

Also, there's a difference between the nutrient value in fresh, cooked grains and the overprocessed crap in many commercial dogs foods, so I would appreciate it if you would not misquote me...("You said dogs can only digest cooked processed grains")...leave out the processed next time, as that is not what I said.

Originally Posted by brutus'mother

I won't be drawn into a tit for tat with you as I have seen in many other threads so back to the topic at hand.....

Not sure what your problem is, but if I see misinformation I will comment on it. Maybe you should take a deep breath and stop taking things so personally. I think a raw diet is great if done right and the dog does well on it, so there's really nothing to be offended about.

[brutus'mother]

No problem and I'm not the least bit offended. You clearly have demonstrated that your knowledge on this subject (and most all subjects) is light years ahead of mine.

Sorry for misquoting you, the cooking of the grains does equal processing therfore I did say, "cooked processed grains" which is more accurate than what you actually said but, nevertheless a misquote indeed.

And now unfortunately, I have been drawn into the tit for tat that you seem to so enjoy on this board, I concede.
You will have the final word on this subject.

[Patinka]

Please stay on topic. We are discussing eating raw bones here.
If you want to start a topic discussing dog needing grains or not, or if they can be utilized by their body or not....that would be great.

Patinka

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

...I think I'll freeze the chicken at first, just to make myself more comfortable....

From where are you buying the chicken? If from the grocery store, would you freeze the chicken you bought to eat yourself beforehand??

All the raw I buy is frozen and is shipped frozen. Poultry necks come in 30 & 40 lbs, depending on the bird. I have a big solid metal anvil in the yard that I use the break up the blocks of frozen necks by throwing the frozen block down on it until it breaks into smaller pieces. I put one of the pieces in a large metal pan to thaw while the other block goes back into the freezer.

The meat may have ice chips in it because it hasn't completely thawed, but I don't feed meat that's frozen solid.

[Maxxx]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

From where are you buying the chicken? If from the grocery store, would you freeze the chicken you bought to eat yourself beforehand??

The meat may have ice chips in it because it hasn't completely thawed, but I don't feed meat that's frozen solid.

I'll be buying the chicken from a chicken farm/production plant. They are a well known supplier of chicken in Ontario and there's a plant sort of by my house. I wouldn't freeze the chicken before I eat it, but I do cook it first.

I know I've read everywhere that you don't have to freeze it before feeding it because their digestive tracts are shorter and the stomach enzymes are very strong, but I'll just feel (personally) more comfortable freezing the chicken before I feed Max. I'm sure after a few weeks, I'll be less nervous about it and won't freeze the meats anymore, but I have to work up to that point.

I'll be defrosting the chicken before I give it to Max.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Maxxx

...I wouldn't freeze the chicken before I eat it, but I do cook it first.

I would expect you would.

Originally Posted by Maxxx

...I know I've read everywhere that you don't have to freeze it before feeding it because their digestive tracts are shorter and the stomach enzymes are very strong, but I'll just feel (personally) more comfortable freezing the chicken before I feed Max. I'm sure after a few weeks, I'll be less nervous about it and won't freeze the meats anymore, but I have to work up to that point.

I'll be defrosting the chicken before I give it to Max.

You're making work for yourself, but if that's what you need to do to get yourself to feed Max raw, by all means freeze it, then defrost it.

[TrinaJ]

Maxxx,

Personally I prefer to give Jett fresh necks, but if i have to freeze them (when I buy in bulk) I make sure that I defrost them in the fridge to avoid salmanella - remember food is safe if defrosted at 4 degrees celcius (fridge temperature).

When I shop (for my family) its not practicle to buy meat every night or to go to the supermarket everyday so I have to freeze meat. There is nothing wrong with freezing fresh meat/checkn/pork/turkey etc as long as you DONT REFREEZE and remember to defrost safely in the fridge.

Thanks Angel Bunny for the advice on the egg shells, I just wasn't sure about them. It makes me feel better to hear that others are feeding the shells and all with no worries. I will try it tomorrow night when i feed her - should be a hoot to watch. I never knew you could feed the shells to them, also didn't know about their calcium value.

Trina